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Career Prospects

A degree in electrical and computer engineering from Ohio State opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities. A new graduate in electrical and computer engineering will face a bright and challenging future, with positions to be found in research, design and development, manufacturing, marketing, management and other areas.

An ECE degree can take you anywhere

Our program provides a solid foundation in high technology problem-solving and enables engineers to expand their careers into other fields. An electrical and computer engineering degree also provides a good background for pre-medicine, as well as careers in business & entrepreneurship, law, art and design, audio engineering, international studies and music. Many ECEs become entrepreneurs, launching new businesses by applying electrical and computer engineering systems and technology to new areas. Around 15% of our graduates attend graduate school to earn a master’s or doctorate degree in electrical and computer engineering.

Land your dream job, make the big bucks!

Both large and small companies heavily recruit Ohio State’s electrical and computer engineering graduates for positions in automotive, aerospace, communications, entertainment, military, manufacturing and other industries. There are also positions available in many government agencies.

ECEs are not only highly respected, they are highly paid. The average beginning salary for electrical and computer engineers with a bachelor’s degree is approximately $61,200 per year*. The average offer for students with advanced degrees is $74,100 for graduates with a master’s degree and $96,600 for graduates with a PhD degree.

Salaries vary by area of specialization, but the median annual wage of electrical engineers was $84,540 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half of the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $54,030, and the top 10 percent earned more than $128,610.

The median annual wage of electronics engineers was $90,170 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,860, and the top 10 percent earned more than $135,080.

*Average 2011-2012 offer made to Ohio State ECE graduates as reported by The Ohio State University College of Engineering Career Services. The Career Services office is available to all engineering students and provides free help with finding and securing internships and co-ops, career assistance, advice and resources.